Vote for the story that you really like by checking a box next to it. Then press the VOTE button to submit your votes.
Also, links to story categories and "Send to Friend" will open in a new window, so as not to interrupt your story reading.

Suit Alleges MS Racism
Software Linked Black Couple to Monkeys
The Associated Press
S A N D I E G O, June 30 — A lawsuit accuses Microsoft of including a
“racially-charged” message linking black people to monkeys in its
Publisher 1998 software. The company has agreed to alter the program.
John Elijah, 32, filed the suit Tuesday in San Diego federal court,
claiming users will see images that include a black couple sitting on
monkey bars when they type “monkey” to access pictures of the animal.
“I felt the blood rushing out of my whole body,” said Elijah, a black
construction worker who was shown the image by a co-worker. “I was
humiliated.”

LETTING GO
During the Persian Gulf War, I was assigned to go to Saudi Arabia. As I
was saying good-bye to my family, my three-year-old son, Christopher,
was holding on to my leg and pleading with me not to leave. "No, Daddy,
please don't go!" he kept repeating.
We were beginning to make a scene when my wife, desperate to calm him,
said, "Let Daddy go and I'll take you to get a pizza."
Immediately, Christopher loosened his death grip, stepped back and in a
calm voice said, "'Bye, Daddy."
Craig S. Kunishige in Reader's Digest

Karen was telling me that her to-be-ex, a police officer, asked
the judge to please remind her to re-register a gun he'd given
her in her name. "You see, your honor, to buy it, I had to
register it in my name." The judge said, "Why's this so impor-
tant?" "Because, Your Honor, I don't want to be shot with 'my
own gun'." The judge had to hold a piece of paper in front of his
face to hide his laughter.